Guard for machinery



Nov; 16, 1937. E. SMITH GUARD FOR MACHINERY Filed Oct. 20, 1956 uZZZbr was:

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 Aren't OFFICE GUARD FOR MACHINERY Ernest Smith, Manchester, England Application October 20, 1936, Serial No. 106,680

In Great Britain November 12, 1935 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in guards for machinery and more particularly for machines of the type having a stationary working head carrying a reciprocating mechanism. An example of such a machine is a wire stitching machine for use in cardboard box making and-for other purposes wherein the working head is mounted vertically on the machine frame and carries a reciprocating stitching mechanism which is adapted to err-operate at the lower end of the head with a rising and falling plate to grip the cardboard or the like parts inserted therein and to stitch them together.

One object of the present invention is to provide a guard for machines of the above. type which will be simple to construct and to attach to the machine head and which will serve as an efficient guard to protect the fingers of those using the machine.

Another object of the invention is to make the guard in the form of a plate adapted to be attached to and to act as a cover for the working end of the machine head and which is provided with an opening or slot through which the reciprocating mechanism passes or projects during the cycle of operations of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to make the 'guard' in the form of an aluminium or other metal plate or. casting having an opening therein geometrically similar in shape to the cross section of the reciprocating mechanism which'is to pass or project therethrough.

It is a still further object of the invention to round off theedges of the face'of the guard and to curve or bow the working face thereof to facilitate the insertion of the articles to be dealt with and to present smooth surfaces to the fingers of the operator. Further the working face of the guard may be provided with spring urged balls, rollers or the like which will ensure easy manipulation of the articles when being dealt with or as they are fed to or removed from the working head of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will be referred to in the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating a certain specific embodiment of the invention.

It will be understood that certain changes may be made in the illustrated construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof which is defined by the claims herein.

H In the drawing:---

55 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a. wirestitching machine to which is attached a guard according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross-section through a guard accordingto the invention and As shown the stitching machine comprises a head I vertically mounted in the frame 2 and having a reciprocating stitching mechanism 3 therein which is operated from the main drive 4 and is adapted to co-operate with a rising and falling clinching plate mounted in the arm ,5 of the frame to stitch the cardboard or other sheet 6.

Such a machine is well known and the invention is not concerned with the mechanism thereof.

The guard 1 is attached to the working end of the head I and comprises a cast aluminium plate adapted to cover the end of the head i and having an opening 8 therein similar in shape to the cross section of the. reciprocating mechanism. 3 which is to pass therethrough.

Upstanding fiange members 9 are arranged at one end of the plate and each is bored as at Ill to receive one of the clamping screws or bolts II by which the guard is attached to the head of the machine. The other end of the plate is provided with a flange l2 arranged to grip the edge of the head I when the screws or bolts l l are tightened up; or the flangesB may be formed at both ends or otherwise arranged on the plate for the clamping screws or bolts.

The guard is provided with upstanding flanges 13 on all sides of its periphery, extending away from its working face I4 while the edges l5 of the face are rounded 01f to facilitate insertion of the articles to be stitched and to present smooth surfaces to the fingers of the operator. Further the working face It is slightly curved or bowed for the same purpose. The guard may be substantially rectangular in shape as shown or it may have a curved or other shaped periphery as desired.

The face M of the guard is provided with spring pressed balls I! which ensure easy movements of the cardboard or like articles to be stitched as they are fed to or taken off the machine. The balls I! are contained in tapered pockets l8 formed in the upstanding flanges 13 of the guard and project'therethrough onto the face of the guard, and are held in place by the plungers I9 carried by leaf springs 20 screwed to the guard or moulded as at 2| to fit round the various projections, screwheads and the like on the head of the machine.

It will be understood that the guard may be secured in position in various ways depending on the particular machine to which it is to be attached. Thus the upstanding flange members 9 may in some cases be modified or dispensed with and the guard secured in any other suitable manner.

The guard may be made of any suitable material and may have a polished, machined or otherwise treated working surface. Also the opening 8 may, if desired, be in the form of a slot extending from one edge of the guard.

The guard above described may be applied to studding machines, stapling machines and to other machines of a similar type, also to sewing machines.

I claim:-

1. A guard for the reciprocating mechanism of the head of a machine of the stapling or stitch- 7 ing type, comprising a member having a recess 7 opening through a face thereof to receive said head and snugly engage about the end thereof, said member having a passage therethrough within said recess through which the reciprocating mechanism of the head may operate, and means upstanding from said one face of the member whereby said member may be attached to said head.

2. A guard for the reciprocating mechanism of the head of a machine of the stapling or stitching type, comprising a member having a recess opening through a face thereof toreceive said head and snugly engage about the 'end thereof, said member having a passage therethrough within said recess through which the, reciprocating mechanism of the head may operate, means upstanding from said one face of the member whereby said member may be attached" to said head, and rotatable means carried by said member and projecting outwardly of the opposite face thereof to facilitate the movement of material therebeneath.

3. A guard for the reciprocating mechanism of the head of a machine of the stapling or stitching type, comprising a member having a recess opening through a face thereof to receive said head and snugly engage about the end thereof, said member having a passage therethrough Within said recess through which the reciprocating mechanism of the head may operate, means upstanding from said one face of the member whereby said member may be attached to said head, rotatable means carried by'said member and projecting outwardly of the opposite face thereof to facilitate the movement of material therebeneath, said member having an upwardly curved leading edge to facilitate the initial in-. sertion of the material beneath saidimember.

' ERNEST SMITH. 

